Trading involves risk. Screenshots are examples of the interface and do not guarantee future prices, slippage, spread or fills. Trader Start is a browser terminal and research workspace; the broker remains the holder of your funds and the final source of account state. The security model relies on official cTrader authorization rather than sharing broker passwords with Trader Start.
1) What Trader Start gives you
Trader Start combines three jobs in one workspace:
Browse market pages, instruments, technical context and supporting analytics.
Use public charts, volume display, timeframe switching, objects and TS Technical Overview.
Connect eligible cTrader accounts, trade LIVE accounts from available brokers, and also use DEMO accounts for testing.
You can start with public charting immediately. Broker authorization is needed only when you want account balances, open positions, order entry and position management.
2) Register or sign in to Trader Start
- Open Trader Start and use the account / sign in area in the site header.
- Create your Trader Start user profile or sign in to an existing one.
- Complete any verification step shown by the site.
- After sign-in, your site preferences such as theme and terminal state can be restored more reliably.
A Trader Start account is your website identity. It does not automatically create a brokerage account and it does not hold your deposit. Trading access appears only after you connect an eligible cTrader account.
3) Connect cTrader broker accounts
For trading through Trader Start, open an eligible cTrader trading account with one of the brokers currently available in Trader Start, such as IC Markets or FP Trading (FP Markets), where the broker accepts your jurisdiction and offers the relevant instrument. Broker registration, eligibility, funding and execution remain with that broker. LIVE trading is available only on eligible real accounts from the available brokers, while DEMO trading is also supported for testing. A Trader Start website login does not replace the brokerage account.
Trader Start uses official cTrader authorization. The flow is designed so you can choose exactly which trading accounts to expose to the terminal, which is an important part of the platform security approach.
Choose a supported broker connection inside Trader Start and continue to the official cTrader authorization page.
Sign in with your cTrader ID, tick the LIVE or DEMO accounts you want Trader Start to access, and review the permissions carefully.
Approve access and return to Trader Start. Your linked accounts then become available inside the terminal.
LIVE execution depends on a real account from one of the brokers currently available in Trader Start, the specific account and the availability of the chosen symbol in that account. DEMO accounts are also available for testing.
Use the account refresh function whenever you add or change authorized cTrader accounts. Trader Start updates the connected account list so newly authorized accounts can be selected without a manual reset of your workspace.
4) Choose the trading account inside Trader Start
After the connection is established, the terminal can show one or more linked cTrader accounts. This account selector is important because your balance, margin, open positions, symbol availability and order permissions all depend on the chosen account.
- Verify LIVE versus DEMO.
- Check the broker name and account number.
- Confirm currency, leverage context and current balance/equity.
- Switch accounts deliberately before you trade.
- Use refresh if you authorized additional accounts at the cTrader side.
Good practice: after switching accounts, glance at the right-side account summary and at the open positions list before placing a new order.
5) Understand the terminal layout
The Trader Start terminal is designed so the essential information is visible immediately:
Main chart area
- Current instrument and timeframe badge.
- Chart type label and latest OHLC values.
- Live or delayed quote marker depending on instrument source.
- Volume histogram under the price chart.
- Chart lines for entry, stop loss and take profit.
Top control strip and side tools
- SELL/BID and BUY/ASK panels.
- Volume, spread and quick SL/TP input fields.
- Order Ticket button for the trading panel.
- TF for timeframes, fx for chart style / studies and Objects for drawing tools.
- Right-side account, open positions, pending orders and history areas.
6) Search and switch symbols
The symbol picker lets you move quickly between cryptocurrencies, forex pairs, metals, indices, energy markets, stock CFDs and composite instruments such as DXY. Search helps when you already know the ticker, while the category list helps you discover the available market universe.
Charts are public, so you can research symbols even before linking a broker. Limitation: the presence of a research page or chart does not mean that every broker account can trade the symbol.
7) Timeframes on the main chart
You can switch the main chart timeframe in two ways: select TF in the top toolbar, or click/tap the timeframe displayed inside the chart next to the ticker, such as BTCUSD, D1. Both controls open the timeframe choices for the same chart. Available intervals include M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1 and MN. The technical overview also has its own timeframe chips for independent indicator analysis.
- Use intraday frames such as M1 to H4 for short-term structure and execution.
- Use D1, W1 and MN to keep the bigger market context in view.
- Switching timeframe changes both the price structure and the indicator context, so compare at least one lower and one higher horizon.
8) Chart types: what each one is good for
| Chart type | Main benefit | Possible drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese Candles | Best all-round choice for price action, wicks, structure and momentum. | Can look busy during fast market movement. |
| OHLC Bars | Compact view with clear open-high-low-close values. | Less intuitive for many retail users than candles. |
| Line | Excellent for a clean trend view and broad structure without noise. | Hides intrabar range and wick behavior. |
| Heikin Ashi | Smooths noise and helps hold a trend visually. | Displayed candles are calculated, not the raw traded candles. |
| Renko | Useful for filtering small fluctuations and focusing on directional moves. | Time is deemphasized; not ideal when session timing matters. |
| Range bars | Highlights volatility in equal price steps and can clarify intraday structure. | Bars do not represent equal time duration. |
| Kagi | Helps identify supply/demand shifts and major directional reversals. | Less familiar for many users. |
| Point & Figure | Removes much of the noise and focuses on meaningful price movement. | Not natural for users who need candle-by-candle reading. |
| Three Line Break | Can make trend continuation and reversal structure easier to spot. | Abstracts away ordinary candle timing and micro detail. |
Practical advice: use candles for general analysis and trade planning, line for a broad market overview, and advanced chart types such as Heikin Ashi, Renko or Range when you want to cut noise and emphasize direction.
9) TS Technical Overview
TS Technical Overview is a dedicated analysis block under the chart. It summarizes multiple technical inputs for the selected timeframe and turns them into a readable bias such as Strong Buy, Neutral or Sell. It also contains its own row of timeframe chips, which makes it easy to compare the summary signal across M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1 and MN.
- Use it to compare whether lower and higher timeframes agree or conflict.
- Use the chips to jump across M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1 and MN.
- Read it as a context tool, not as a standalone trading decision.
TS Technical Overview is a context tool. Use it together with price structure, risk control and your own trading plan.
9a) Indicators, moving averages and the fx panel
The chart also contains its own visual information. Moving averages, volume bars and other indicators help define trend direction, momentum and market participation. The fx panel is where you manage many of these analytical overlays and studies.
- Moving averages help define trend direction and dynamic support or resistance.
- Volume bars provide context for activity and participation behind price moves.
- The fx panel groups technical tools so you can add or adjust studies without leaving the chart.
- Indicators are context tools, not certainty. Combine them with price structure, risk control and broker availability.
10) Drawing tools and chart objects
The Objects menu is designed for practical chart markup. Typical tools include horizontal lines, vertical lines, trend lines, channels, Fibonacci-based tools, fullscreen mode and object cleanup.
Objects help you mark support and resistance, draw trend structure, project zones, and keep a repeatable visual trading plan directly on the chart.
Too many objects can clutter the chart. Keep only the markings that still influence your decision; delete the rest so the workspace stays readable.
Because objects sit directly on the chart, they are excellent for explaining setups, comparing several entry ideas and aligning SL/TP placement with the visible market structure.
11) Order Ticket: opening positions
The Order Ticket panel is the central order-entry module. Here you choose the order type, volume, stop loss, take profit and—where applicable—pending-order parameters.
| Order function | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Market | Buys or sells immediately at the currently available market price. | Fastest method, but spread and slippage still matter. |
| Limit | Places an order at a better price than current market, waiting for price to come to you. | Useful for pullback entries, but the order can remain unfilled. |
| Stop | Triggers after price reaches the stop level, typically for breakout ideas. | Good for momentum entries, but filled price can differ from trigger. |
| Stop Limit | Combines a stop trigger with a limit price control. | More precise, but can remain unfilled if the market runs through the limit. |
12) Confirmations and visible P/L preview
Before an order or protection change is sent to the broker, Trader Start shows a confirmation dialog summarizing the account, direction, size and expected protection context. This gives you one more checkpoint before the request is sent.
Order confirmation
Protection confirmation
One of the most convenient terminal features is that stop loss and take profit are visible as money implications, not only as price levels. That makes it easier to assess whether the setup still matches your risk plan.
13) Stop Loss and Take Profit management
You can enter Stop Loss (SL) and Take Profit (TP) directly in the Order Ticket, then submit and confirm the change. You can also manage these levels from the trade lines on the chart when the connected account and symbol support chart-based order editing. Drag a protective line to a new price, right-click it to open its context menu with a mouse, or press and hold the line on a mobile touchscreen to access the available actions. Trader Start shows the position entry line, the stop-loss line and the take-profit line on the chart, making the whole trade structure visible at a glance. Check the proposed prices and estimated P/L in the confirmation dialog, then verify the updated values from the broker after execution; moving a line alone does not confirm that the broker accepted the change.
- SL/TP can often be set in price or pips mode.
- Chart-line modification is faster for visual traders.
- The confirmation window is the final checkpoint before the request is sent.
- The actual broker response remains the final source of truth.
Seeing protective levels directly on the chart makes trade structure easier to understand. Caution: a moved line is still just an interface action until the broker confirms the update.
14) Open positions, pending orders and account summary
Once you have positions, the right panel becomes a working control center. It displays balance, equity, free margin, used margin, floating P/L, the number of open positions and the pending orders block.
From here you can:
- Review the current floating result of each position.
- Open the detailed management block for a specific position.
- Inspect pending orders separately.
- Open history and filter it by date range.
- Use bulk actions such as close all positions, close profitable positions or close losing positions—after confirmation.
Broker trailing stop: three ways to use it
Broker trailing stop is an optional position-protection feature for supported cTrader accounts and instruments. It begins with a valid Stop Loss and, when the market moves in your favor, can advance the stop automatically to help protect part of the move. For a BUY position the stop moves upward as the price rises; for a SELL position it moves downward as the price falls. It does not deliberately move the stop farther away when the price reverses. A trailing stop does not guarantee the exact fill price, and its availability and behavior depend on the connected broker.
- When placing a new market or pending order: open Order Ticket, set a valid Stop Loss and choose the order type and volume. Expand More, enable Broker trailing stop, then review and confirm the order. On a pending order, trailing protection applies only as supported by the broker when the order becomes a position; it does not trail an unfilled entry price.
- For an already open position: open Order Ticket → Open Positions, choose the position and open its management editor. Set or verify Stop Loss · price, tick Broker trailing stop, submit the protection update and confirm it. Reopen the position to verify the broker accepted the trailing setting.
- For an existing pending order: select the order in Pending Orders, open its editor, provide a valid SL and enable Broker trailing stop. Confirm the amendment and verify the updated order with cTrader. Broker support and order type restrictions still apply.
To switch trailing off, return to the corresponding position or pending-order editor, untick Broker trailing stop, confirm the change and check the broker status. To change the initial distance, edit the Stop Loss price first; the terminal does not offer separate percentage-based, ATR-based or multi-stage trailing algorithms. The Trigger method menu (Trade, Opposite, Double trade, Double opposite) on certain pending orders controls the broker's stop-order trigger, not four different trailing-stop modes. A trailing stop is different from manually dragging the SL chart line: the former is broker-managed automation, the latter is an explicitly confirmed manual edit. Be aware of spread, volatility, gaps, slippage and minimum stop distances; never assume the browser alone controls the broker's stop.
15) Position menu, quick actions and partial close
Each open position exposes a context menu with direct management actions. This saves time because you do not need to rebuild the entire order ticket from scratch just to adjust an existing trade.
This is where Trader Start becomes especially flexible for active management. A user can close only part of a position—such as 0.01, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.02 lots over several steps—while keeping the remainder open, provided the requested volume respects the broker’s minimum size and increment rules.
Partial close lets you lock in gains or reduce risk progressively instead of exiting the whole trade at once.
These are still manual or explicitly confirmed actions; they are not automatic multi-target scale-out orders unless the broker/platform later adds such logic.
16) Bulk close actions and confirmations
Trader Start also supports account-level convenience actions such as closing profitable positions or closing all positions. Because such actions can affect several positions at once, the confirmation step is especially important.
Best practice: use bulk actions only after checking the selected account, current market speed and whether the action matches your plan. In fast conditions, prices may change between the preview and the actual execution event.
17) History and review workflow
The history block helps you review closed trades and filter the date range. This is useful not only for tracking results, but also for learning from your own execution: which symbols you traded, how long positions stayed open, and whether your partial-close or protection decisions improved the result.
Combine history review with the chart and TS Technical Overview to study what worked well and what should be changed in future trades.
18) Light theme, dark theme and mobile behavior
Trader Start works in both light and dark themes, and the trading layout is responsive enough to remain practical on smaller screens. The theme choice is not only cosmetic:
Why many traders like it
- Comfortable for long chart sessions and night work.
- Bright candles and trade lines stand out well.
- Often feels more focused for active execution.
Why it is still important
- Often more readable in daylight and office lighting.
- Excellent for documentation, screenshots and printed explanations.
- Helps users who prefer a brighter contrast model.
On narrower screens, controls can move below the chart, so always scroll the Order Ticket fully before you submit. Mobile users should be extra careful to verify the chosen account, the order size and the approximate P/L preview.
19) How to know whether trading is available
A visible chart does not automatically mean you can send orders. Always distinguish the market session status, the connected broker account and the symbol’s execution availability. The Bid and Ask controls, chart heading and broker notices make these situations clear.
Market Closed — when the session is not open
When the market for a symbol is closed, the Bid and Ask buttons display “Market Closed”. The values shown are the last available market or broker quotes, not an executable live price. Trading resumes only when the relevant session reopens and the account is eligible for the instrument. Tesla (TSLA) illustrates this market-session status.
Symbol unsupported by the selected broker
If a connected cTrader account does not offer the selected instrument, Trader Start displays a notice such as “This ticker is not traded by the selected broker” beneath the instrument title. You can still inspect the public chart, but this account cannot place orders in that symbol. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) is an example; selecting a different supported broker account may change availability.
US Dollar Index (DXY) — information only
The Trader Start DXY chart is a composite built from six FX currency pairs: EURUSD, USDJPY, GBPUSD, USDCAD, USDSEK and USDCHF. Its purpose is to track the US dollar index for analysis. It is labeled “Trader Start composite · Information only” and is not directly tradable through the Trader Start composite symbol; the Bid and Ask controls say “Not tradable”. An individual broker might separately offer another DXY-related CFD, but that would be a different, broker-defined instrument.
20) Main strengths of the Trader Start terminal
- Public charts are available before broker connection.
- Direct cTrader account linking keeps order execution tied to the broker’s official infrastructure.
- Two convenient timeframe workflows help combine fast chart switching with technical overview checks.
- Dark and light themes make the workspace comfortable in different conditions.
- Visible money-based previews for stop loss, take profit and closing actions are highly practical.
- Partial close and bulk close actions make trade management flexible.
- Symbol discovery, market navigation and right-side account metrics keep the trading workflow compact.
21) Things to remember about limitations
| Topic | Important limitation |
|---|---|
| LIVE trading | Requires a compatible real account from one of the brokers currently available in Trader Start. |
| Symbol availability | Not every broker account can trade every symbol shown in the public research terminal. |
| Chart objects and lines | Visual changes still depend on broker confirmation if they alter an actual order or position. |
| Indicators | Technical signals help context; they do not guarantee profitable trades. |
| Partial closes | Allowed size depends on the broker’s minimum volume and step for the instrument. |
| Execution preview | Approximate profit/loss can change before the final execution event arrives. |
Frequently asked questions
Can I study charts on Trader Start without connecting a broker?
Yes. Public charts and market-research views are available without broker authorization. You only need a connected cTrader account for account information and trading functions.
Do I need to connect all my cTrader accounts?
No. During the authorization step you can choose which accounts to allow. Later you can refresh the account list after adding more authorized accounts.
Can I trade with any LIVE broker account?
No. LIVE execution depends on the brokers currently available in Trader Start and on an eligible cTrader account from one of those brokers.
Does TS Technical Overview place trades automatically?
No. It is an analytical summary and not an auto-trading engine.
Do I give my broker password directly to Trader Start?
No. Trader Start uses the official cTrader authorization flow. That security design lets you grant or revoke account access without handing your broker password to the website.
Can I partially close a trade?
Yes. You can choose a specific close volume in lots or use shortcut percentages such as 25%, 50%, 75% or Full when the broker and symbol support that size.
Can I use the same terminal in both light and dark themes?
Yes. The trading logic is the same; only the visual theme changes.